Completion of Trackwork for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension

June 6, 2016

VAUGHAN, ONTARIO — Today at the site of the future Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario and Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca; Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Intergovernmental Affairs) and Member of Parliament for Spadina-Fort York, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson; and Josh Colle, Toronto Transit Commission Chair and Toronto City Councillor, (Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence) marked the completion of track installation for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension.

A special event was held to celebrate the completion of trackwork in the new Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) tunnels and stations where a total of 17.4 kilometres of track and four sections of special track have been installed. Dignitaries walked down into the station to track level where they participated in a ceremonial tapping in of the last clips that hold the rails in place.

“The Government of Canada understands the important role public transit plays in connecting people to their communities and allowing them to be active participants, both socially and economically. This is why we have committed to double infrastructure investments over the next 10 years, including funding dedicated to public transit,” said MP Vaughan. “The Toronto-York-Spadina Subway Extension will significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. I am pleased to see this project reach another important milestone.”

“We know how important public transit is to managing congestion, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and building communities,” said Minister Del Duca. “The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension will provide subway service beyond regional boundaries for the first time. Another important milestone has been reached for the subway extension that will enable people to spend less time commuting and more time with their friends and families.”

“Improving our transit and transportation network is the number one priority of York Region residents, and this new subway will certainly go a long way towards moving people faster and more efficiently,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Emmerson. “As the first subway line to extend beyond Toronto’s borders, this is an historic project that will benefit commuters for generations to come.”

"Thanks to the partnership of all three levels of government, together we are building rapid transit that will benefit Toronto residents for years to come," said TTC Chair Councillor Colle. "The Toronto-York Spadina Subway extension is a transit investment that will improve the quality of life for our customers and has the potential to transform communities."

The TYSSE project is an 8.6-kilometre extension of the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Line 1 from its present terminus at Downsview Station to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7 in York Region. It will have six new subway stations, three new commuter parking lots and a TTC, York Region and GO bus terminal.

The TYSSE will improve transit service by supporting a reliable multi-modal transportation network integrated with other transit systems within the GTA. This initiative will promote economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping take cars off the road, and reduce travel times for commuters.

The Government of Canada has committed up to $697 million to the project. The Province of Ontario has provided $870 million, held in the Move Ontario Trust.

The City of Toronto will contribute $907 million and the Regional Municipality of York will contribute $606 million towards total project costs.

The TTC is the project manager for the extension.

Contacts:

Brook SimpsonPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Infrastructure andCommunities 613-219-0149